BASES OF ZONAL BIOCHRONOLOGY. V.V. Chernykh

Definitions of the most frequently used terms and basic concepts in stratigraphy are given. Requirements for zonal biochronological scales are formulated, a program for the construction and unification of zonal biochronological scales with a high correlation potential is developed. It is proposed to limit the use of ordinary, physical time in stratigraphic practice and use for time comparisons chronological, event scales constructed on the basis of the evolutionary sequence of organism species.
The operational principles of stratigraphic studies are discussed as elements of a single system underlying theoretical stratigraphy. The biological foundations of the zonal method are considered. Detailed schemes of divergent development of streptognathodids (conodonts) are presented, which results in a directed change in differentiating characters, which is used as a basis for constructing zonal meronomic scales. The effectiveness of their application for intercontinental correlation of Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian deposits is shown.
The book is intended for geologists-stratigraphers, paleontologists, general geologists, teachers and students of geological departments of universities attending the course of discipline “Fundamentals of paleontology. General stratigraphy.